
Qass- 
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



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'1/2^0)1 a mountain laJce.^^ 






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PONDERINGS 
^ POESY. ^ 

EI LEWIS EARL THOMPSON. 



Not from the grand old master?, 
Not from the bards sublime. 

— Longfellow. 

Copyright 1897, by L.E.Thompson. 
ERIE, PA. 

Near Lowee Parade St. 
18d7 



?«fO 



/ i^^/V Cj^J 



FIRST COPY, 



9rv fj. 

iT POmyERINGS. 



Preface, y 

OUR LIVES, 1 

A BETTER DAY, 3 

THE GREAT RULER, 3 

THE HEART'S REVIEW. 4 

THE BEAR'S RANGE WEATHER BUREAU, 5 



\ 



GREETING TO EPvVORTHIANS, 


7 




HAIL EaIERSONIANS, 


8 




THE COMING REALM, 


9—19 




THE COMMON SCHOOL, 


19 




DOWN, DOWN A NARROW LANE, 


21 




DREAM Oi^ THE THRONG, 


22 




SONG OF THE ANCIENT AGES, 


23-45 




THE RESCUE, 


46 




EVENING, 


47 




THE NEW YEAR BELL. 


48 




FALSE JOYS, 


49 




Farewell, 


50 


o 



PREFACE. 

These are the days when poetry is at disconnt; 
and those who can depend upon poetry writing 
for a livlihood are few. But poets seem to be 
**legion" in number, notwithstanding the fact 
that no regular paying market can be found for 
the work of any but the most famed. 

This little collection will undoubtedly be 
better appreciated by the writer's friends than 
by the public at large; and it is to friends and 
acquaintances, rather than others (though any 
other attention will be appreciated), among whom 
these rhymes are seeking readers. Some friends 
have already expressed themselves as being pleas- 
ed with one or two of the poems herein, and to 
them I would express gratitude for notice taken. 

The typography is not all that could be wish- 
ed for; but begging mercy of the critic, 1 am 
jrour humble serrant^ 



-^:poi^nDEK/ii:sra-s.^" 



OUR LIVES. 

t^ur lives speed Jike a swift-winged boat 
O Upon a mountain lake. 
All seems serene while thus we float, 
Each drowsy nook io wake. 

Earth's joys, like rocks beneath the crest 

Ofwhite-caps seething white, 
May call to us to come and rest 

When rest would not be right. 

The days, like birds, fleet past our crafD, 

But still they leave us free; 
And oft a breeze blows strong from aft 

And speeds us on in glee. 



POyDEBIXGS. 

So on W3 sail. And heed we where? 

Yes: some are sailing home- 
But others sail and seem to care 

For naught but just to roam. 



V4 fancy I see, in the ages to come, 
^ A bright and happier world: 
For the banner is even now carried by some, 
And iis folds to the breeze are unfurled. 

But th' monarch? of money and unrighteous pow'r 
Must first drop their weapons of strife. 

And the self-seeking heart must be changed from 
that hoar 
To the fount of a nobler life. 

The wants of the hungry must beat their retreat 
Before the free bounty of wealth; 

And the poor and affiicted with weak, halting feet, 
Must march to the music of health. 



THE GEE A T R ULER. 3 

tVj-od rules the world 

His children know — 
How sweet the voice that tells them so! 
But when from high His wrath is hurJed 
Where can the scornful spirit go? 

God rules the world, 

Yet man is frail; 
His form is weak, and visage pale; 
But longing vision sees uuf urlad 
Hope's banner o'er death's dim, low vale. 

"God rules the world!" 

And the world replies: 
High mountain, and the boundless skies, 
And river fair through forests curled, 
Say surely that His love ne'er dies. 

"He rules full well!" 

Say voices ail. 
Low, whispered notes, a-nd wak'ning call. 
From forests, streams and oceans swell, 
And on the i:aptured list'ner fall. 



POyDEBIXGS. 

The wind swift flies 

To speed the call, 
Till it waves the pines and poplars tall; 
Then 'round the distant hill-side shies, 
And breathes these words so true, to all. 

Then cease its sighs. 
While its unchecked speed 
Soars o'er the plain, where th' dainty reed 
To raise its head erect hard tries, 
But fainting, hopes not to succeed. 

"God rules my heart!" 

And the words of fire 
Breathe from the tightened, hand-swept 

wire; 
Its quiy'ring tones new life impart, 
And satisfy its mute desire. 

TJIE PE^^^^'S REVIEW. 

The joys that seem^to-day so new 
M ay be reflections of our pasi — 

Heart-pictures of deeds right and true. 
On screens of meditation cast. 



THE BE A K S RA XGE WE A THEB B UREA U. 5 

Bai^E^a. 

Don't kno\v jest how it started. T/sright strange 
How us old ploddin' farmers of Bear's Range 
Could think we was that smarter ihan all Cain 
That we could tell for certin when 'twould rain! 
But Simon Pease kept hintin' 'round the store 
That we, of late, was giitin' worse and more 
Of unexpected weather than the land 
(However meek and patient) could well stand. 

He says: "The weather bureau don't half try. 
Now, what we must be doin', mind your eye, 
Is not to trust 'em longer. Let 'em groan — 
We'll have a weatber bureau of our own!" 
'Twas done. The store was centre of the work, 
Where Simon Pease was seated weather clerk: 
Then us conceited farmers of the Bange 
Kept watch of earth and heavens for a change, 

And what we see we told to Simon Pease; 
And he hung out each mornm' in the breeze, 
A board that had a sort o' summary 
Of what we thought the day would likely be. 



6 POXDEBIXGS. 

'Twas from dependin' oa the board one day, 
That I, by raiu, lopt fourteen tons of hay. 
One time the board said, ''rain without a doubt," 
And Jones's had their cabbage plants set out. 

There wa'n't a drop of rain for more'n a week; 
And then when Jones met Pease he'd hardly speak. 
But all the rest said: "Give it one more chance — 
We'll share up for the hay and cabbage plants." 
Yet, take the hul performance through and 

througn, 
There wa'n't one half the time the thing come 

true — 
It wa'nt a feather better, we found out. 
Than Uncle Sam's concern we'd kicked about. 

So, when we met one time, and Simon guessed 
We'd better *'lei the thing go galley-west," 
We ail agreed and saiJ 'twas jest as well, 
For what the weathered be 'twas hard to tell. 
And then, to set out all the sickly fun, 
Friend Pease demanded pay for what he'd done— 
But times sence then have met an awful change 
Down here amongst the farmers of Bear's Range. 



GREETING TO EPWORTHIAXS. 



u 



ost dear to every Christian heart 
Is that great brotherhood 
And sisterhood death cannot part. 
Ii stands as first it stood. 



Epworthians, this my greeting is, 

My word of fellowsliip 
To you around whom death-darts whiz 

From hell's dreaJ marksman-ship, 

But strike your armor without hurt: 
God's blessing! as you show 

The light to them who pause, inert — 
Then may your fervor glow! 

Your pathway is the brightest one 

That ever mankind trod; 
For on it shines th' eternal sun, 

The holy light of God! 



POMjL'HiyGS. 

Jiaail! Emersonians, haill 
^C Hail I fair, progressing sail 
Above a craft so nobly mannedl 
Kest to the watching eye 
That has, in time passed by, 
For your approach the far sea scanned! 

Hail! bright young mariners: 

The heart- your coming stirs. 
Step on the shores of worthy strife! 

Grapple the foes of time! 

Make known the truths sublime 
That beautify the ways of life! 

Come, temperance and truth! 

Come, energy of youth! 
The work is ready for you now. 

Come hastily — and yet. 

Let not your haste forget 
For human weakness to allow. 



THE COMISG REALM. 9 

THE COMING REALM. 

H|^n() long and often sounds the battle's roar; 

Earth's fiel.ls too freely flew wiih rivers red: 
And still the heartless herald cries before, 
Oi war and streams of life-blood to be shed; 
Of noble hopes, by youthful vigor fed, 
Yet, with the hearts that claimed their strength- 

'ning joys, 
To share oblivion of the battle's dead, 
As if a common foe that e'er annoys — 
As if the lives that nourished them were but 
death's toys! 

The love for power, in the iron breasts 
Of kings and bloody conquerors of men, 
Whose trembling subjects quail at their behests, 
Rests not till they have conquered once again 
And heard the death-cry in the woods or glen, 
Or from the fields and marts the stricken foe 
Goes faint and hopeless to the prison pen, 



10 Foynj^'iuyGS. 

No more the cheer of day's return to know, 
No more with shouting hundreds to the strife to go* 
See now the cherished hope — the daj' will come 
When men of might will not their charge abuse; 
When, starting at the call of fife and drum, 
No slaves of power shall with morning dews 
Their life-blood on the battle-held diffuse. 
So ma^' this darker hour foretell the day 
Made glad and glorious with the gracious news 
That war has gone its everlasting way, 
And peace and love and happiness has come to 
stay. 
For shifting lines of ages past reveal 
That foremost in a nation's heart war e'er 
Some hope of conquest with the fatal sieel, 
Some corner of the earth to fill with fear; 
To spread the news of vict'ry far and near, 
As oft were thrones extended or made small. 
All disregarded was the mourner's tear, 
Unheard the plea that would for mercy call, 
The while war built a nation up or caused its fall. 



THE COMiyG REALM. ^^ 

A country's borders were, by frequent strife, 
Unsettled; for those neiglibois olien met 
And played the awful game of life for life; 
And e'en the reckless chance is taken yet: 
Tlie causeless war stands ready to beset 
The weak world's heart at this unguarded door. 
Oh, could the world that fiendish art forget! 
Oh, could the nations learn to strive no more! — 
For love will rule the world when conflict's reign 
is o'er. 

But now on graves of mighty men of war 
Our flowers to their fame we blindly strew, 
Too often asking not what they strove for. 
But thinking every warrior great and true, 
When, had we half the sins those tierce souls 

knew, 
'Twould set us trembling with the sense of guilt., 
So horrible would be the inner view 
As unto God would cry life's fountains spilt. 
It is a thought to make the boldest conscience 

wilt. 



12 FOyBEHiyGS. 

No blame to them who, wronged and sore op- 
pressed, 
Do struggle to escape the iron heel; 
For so it was Columbia was distressed, 
Compelled the weight of tyranny to feel. 
But now, as from the heights of freedom peal 
The shoats of them who are its patriot's sons, 
Let not again war's passion o'er us steal, 
Though justly down the line of ages runs 
The fame ani name of Lincolns, Grants and 
Wasbiugtons, 

Fair land I your streams with silv'ry glancing 

Course down their vales all gladly and serene, 
As if, in dreaming of the coming day, 
Forgotten were the battle's bloody scene — 
As if you would our hearts from mem'ry wean. 
Dream on, in halcyon mazes faster still, 
Till by our waiting, watching eyes is seen 
The sun of love's dawn rising o'er the hill. 
To reign with boundless sway, and prophecy fulfil 1 



THE COJliyG REALM. 13 

The voice of peaci shall iind our farthe.=;t shore, 
To minsrle with the surges on the strand 
And wild screams of the sea gull.^ as they soar 
Where, scorning the rich bounties of the land, 
And spurning the caress of friendliest hand, 
They ride the rolliag wave and part the foam 
Before it breaks in turmoil on the sand; 
^Vhere, birds of freedom, they the ocean roam, 
Or join their wild cries with the voice of freedom's 
home. 

The whole land makes a plea for common will 
.To rule the nations, and to rule us hera; 
And from the purple tops of every hill, 
From woodlands vast and green, or brown and 

sear, 
The voice implores to haste and bring it near; 
And England, too, has felt her blood aflame 
With passion lor the stricken brother's tear, 
Though still she seems to love her haughty 
name, 
And fondly cherishes her conquests' bloody fame. 



14 POXDERIXGS. 

Her isles, though fair and beautiful they lie, 
Weep, in a restless slumber, lor the morn 
In gladder light to flood the dawn-bathed sky, 
Till peace shall all earth's somber roof adorn. 
For that hope-strength'ning dawn they wait 

forlorn, 
Surviving on such light as times afford. 
They pine for His great kingdom who was born 
A Ruler who rejects the bloody sword. 
When He shall reign supreme will Eieu be re- 
stored. 

Look, now, upon the kingdoms of the past 
Which raised themselves above the very earth! 
It seemed that each one in its time held fast 
All nations that they thought to be ot worth. 
They clasped them all within a spacious girth; 
And, had they known the world to be a sphere, 
To drive away the tbirsty spirit's dearth, 
Across the deep those armies, with a cheer, 
Had went until to them new conquests did ap- 
pear. 



THE COJIISG REALM. 15 

Thus wera the heads of ancient monarchies, 
Napoleaus, Cs33afs. and the Assyrian king?:, 
Enthroned where now no splendid palace :s, 
And man defiance to their mem'ry flings, 
Though to their tombs a ling'ring tribute 

clings, 
All dark and crumbling in the blasts of time. 
But now are we receivers of such stings 
As may distract us from the strains sublime 
With harmony, that oft would soothe us with 

their chime. 

Back to the hours of Eden's perfect bliss 
Flies heart and hope with longing for that state, 
x4.nd all the joys that sin has made us miss 
Are there our contemplations to elate; 
But brightly flames the sword at Eden's gate, 
And man can but reflect upon man's past, 
And leave the body to exclusion's fate 
By our first parents on their children cast: 
For man no Eden scenes may view while sin 
ihall last. 



16 POXDEFxIXOS. 

Blac':^ ?ii:I how oft it marf^ the precious view! 
How oft it leads the yielding soul astraj'! 
For mortals ever prove more false than true 
When left to follow out their blinded way. 
It is the rauiling breast that spoils the day, 
And sets a gloom upon the clearest sky. 
Down in the darker thoughts tierce demons play; 
Bat they are seldom known (for they are sly) 
Until some smooth enticement of their craft they 

ply. 

'lis sin that makes the nations disagree. 
Did God possess the heart of every man 
There were no war, for strife there could not 

be. 
Let us the lingering flame begin to fan! 
Let love the breach of discontentment span, 
Its perfect sjstem sway the universe; 
Let mortals give it all the speed they can, 
Until it shall the hind'ring clans disperse, 
And every sin-robbed soul with heaven reim- 
burse. 



THE COJIISG REALM. 1 7 

Consider, now, the deeds of greatest worth — 
They ever spring from fountains sweet and 

pure, 
And are the lasting treasures of the ear'.h, 
That, when vainglory fails, renaain secure. 
With rich attractions they our hearts allure 
Unto a better view of life's design, 
And spur us on to make reward more sure. 
Foi- lives like theirs we common spirits pine, 
And strive to reach the heights that seem to us 
divme. 

There is a greatness all may have witiiin 
CNot greatness like the world's great men pos- 
sess, 
But wealth of heart we ought to strive to win, 
For wordly fame is infinitely less — 
Those famous ones do often feel distress). 
It is a greatness that may be unknown. 
And wears no robes of state or pompous dress. 
It springs from seed by the Creator sown, 
And has His care until it shall have fully grown. 



18 POXDEBIXGS. 

How happy may th3 trusting spirit be, 
Just in ihe circle with its humble friends! 
Though he may have no wealth that vre can 

fee, 
There is a joy within that never ends. 
There is a wealth that sweet contentment lends 
Which all the world would profit by to gain — 
ThfU reciprocity of love which sends 
Its help to o:hers struggling o"i life's main 
Amid the raging hurricanes and blinding i-ain. 

Superior are unpretentious souls 
Who follow thus wiih joy God's giv-^^n line, 
The plan by which the mundane planet rolls, 
And all creation stands: the one design 
To which He would the universe cjnfine. 
Into the darkness of some dang'rous way 
Tneir light of helpfulness may shine, 
And bring to some benighted soul the day, 
And turn the course of him whos- feet have gone 
astray. 



THE COMMMOS SCHOOL. 19 

Some day the very light of Love shall break 
On all the darkened world, with splendor bright, 
Just as the sun on hill, and vale, and lake, 
Oft makes a scene most gorgeous to the sight. 
So speak the songful day, the starry night, 
And all the happy voices sweet to hear. 
The morn so glad with Christ's own blessed 

light, 
May be just o'er tlie hilltop very near; 
For even now some signs of coming day appear. 



« 



TpE ceppe^ gcpeen. 



he village school-house peacefully 

Looks from the little hill. 
The villaere slumbers restfuUy, 

And quietly, and still. 
The moonlight falls in golden streams, 

And gilds the window panes. 
The scholars sleep in peaceful dreams 

Of wisdom's precious gains. 



no FOXDERIXGS. 

The kind old teacher's midnight oil 

Burns in the cot below, 
Betraying his protracted toil 

Some deeper truth to know, 
Which ne, upon the coming day, 

May to the school impart, 
In some sweet and impressive way 

That never will depart. 

He knows that life's ways are beset, 

E'en to the best prepared, 
With many a grief, and pain, and fret, 

And hope to sorrow bared. 
He knows the children trust his care 

To guide them into truth; 
And he could never wish or dare 

To wreck the trust of youth. 

Oh, let the village school-house stand! 

And may it long besiow 
The common tenets of our land 

To minds that daily grow. 



DO WX, DO WS A NARROW LANE. 21 

Let not the children that now sleep, 
Be bound with error's chain: 

Let still the midnight vigil keep 
Their tender souls from stain! 



D0WN, D0WJM n ]V^I^1^0W li^NE. 

fown, down a narrow lane 
Maiden sweet was going, 
Smiling life back again 
(Leaves had stopped growing). 

Softly her tresses fell 
Over shoulders hiding: 

AnO — and her lover — well, 
He was confiding 

Secrets of his heart to her, 
With hope increasing- 
Hoping what might not occur, 
For her love seemed ceasing. 



I 



FOXDERIXGS. 

But I was so fau away 
lu the distant gloaming! 

Hard to hear what lovers say 
When wild winds are moaning. 



D^E^P 0E ¥PE TF1^0N6. 

4[rt nee, in my dream, 
^-^ I saw the the crowd 
Of them who seem 
Wrapped in a shroud, 
But would all mirth and pleasure prove, 
Though on, with burdened hearts, they move. 

Oh, ye great throng 
Of sad mankind! 
Ye move along 
With method blind, 
To find relief from care and strife, 
But miss the true design of life. 



SOSG OF THE A XCIEyT A GES. 23 

SONG OF THE ANCIENT AGES. 

A BIBLICAL POEM. 
TRe vised by the author.) 

TJie Creation. 

2^ h, sacred word! ah, holy thought 
■^ By which God ail creation wrousht! 
He spake the word, and it was done. 
The earth, all heavens and the sun, 
Were out of spac and nothing caught, 
And into form and matter brought. 
Pause, Science 1 — here thy power doth end. 
No knife thy surgery can send 
Into creation's infancy 
Before the universe, set free 
Upon the track of changeless law. 
Was formed. No finite h'^ind cm drarw 



24 FOXVERIXGS. 

From out this well's mysterious deep, 
The secret there that God doth keep. 
Before the universe was Goi — 
Before all things His magic rod. 

The suns, the satelites and stars, 
The tints and lights and golden bars, 
And (better still to mortals here) 
The world, made for His children dear, 
Were formed for us by work Divine; 
And all their fruits are yours and mine. 
My mind must fail in depth and force 
To name these wonders in their course. 
I scarcely hint— I cannot give 
All truths that in the Scriptures live. 
The dawn of morning's faultless light 
Was first the vision of His sight. 
The first note of the mocking-bird 
Was by its own Creator heard. 
But all things pictured heretofore 
No image of the maker bore— 



S02\G OF THE A NCIENT A GES. 25 

No likeness to the great Triune 

Who might with Him in love commune. 

Then man from out the dust was made 
And eastward placed in Eden's shade, 
In Eden's living peace and rest, 
'By balmy breeze and suu caressed.. 
There face to face with God he talked, 
Nor fears nor demons ever mocked. 
'Twas then that God made the decree 
That man no more alone should be. 
A fairer creature there was formed, 
To smooth the labor man performed; 
And Eve, with tender, holy love, 
And pure as angel hosts above, 
Was brought to Adam when he woke 
From sleep by God's own voice that broke. 
Thus they together then did go 
Through Eden's beauty to and fro, 
As sinless and as pure as light, 
With earth and heaven's zoy in gi^ht. 



POXDEMIXGS. 

The scene must end; for— sad to tell! — 
Man from his eminence soon fell. 



Mail's Sin and Fall. 

n uffice it now for me to describe 
-^ How Satan's guile Eve's heart did bribe; 
How piety and innocence fell 
Before the sly serpent's magic spell. 

The words seem falling like a knell; 
For death its \^ork of destruction began 
With this lirst sin of primal man. 

Oh, sad it was that Eve's fair ear 
Bent low, the voice of the tempter to hear, 
As, hid in deceit, with outstretched arms 
He stole of Perfection her unsullied charms , 

And sounded endless death's alarms! 
Thus wails the voice of endless woe 
In the regions of the lost, below. 



SOyG OF THE A SCIEST A GES. 2 . 

Dark is the story and sad to relate! 

'Tis from that hour our woe must date. 

For the seed of destruction once planted will grow, 

And the wisest of mortals no work can bestow 

To slop it; for who can the secret know? 
Tne curse is abroad, and is found in each life 
Where the heart with sin's dark confusion is rife. 

So much from the justice and power of God, 
And the thorns that grow where our parents trod. 
»So much for the first destroying sin, 
And the awful hour when death crept in; 

For we have seen what might have been — 
But God a father's love bestows, 
A full, undying mercy shows. 

So the trees of the forest, and the blooming glen, 
Rojoice for the light of that gladd'ning morn 

Wiien the promise of God was left to men. 
In the day of the saddest hour forlorn. 

The song-birds glad anthems arose once more, 
And angels still wonder stwjh love to bekoWt 



28 FOyDSBIXGS. 

For Gocl gave a message ne'er spokeo before, 
The promise of miilioas returned to the fold. 

And that promise left wich man 
Faster Lhaa deitrnjcioa ria 
In the path of faithful feet. 
'Twas salvation's music sweet. 
Time sped on; and nations grew 
"While its ages swiftly iiew. 
But depravity and sin, 
As in Eden did begin, 
Still were masters of the ihrong 
Who torsook the right for wrong. 

Hark! the tumult of the wave! 
Seel a world-wide, watery grave! 
For the warning was not heard 
When the heart of God was stirred 
To destroy the devil's work 
"Which in human hearts did lurk; 
And the ark that Noah made 
Was tiie only work that staid 



80 yO OF TEE A NCIENT A GES. 29 

After God had sent the flood 
To destroy, without blood, 
All the wickedness of earth, 
Carried on with feast and mirth. 

But nevermore shall mortals see 
Destroying flood o'er earth set free; 
And when the arched bow is seen — 
A promise, storm and calm between — 
It will in every age be meant 
A seal to that great covenant-, 
A silence to the fears within, 
Like mercy to the heart of sin. 



Marl's Progress, ana the Dawn of Faith. 

i^.vhe needs of multiplying hosts 

Who tilled the broad lands far and near, 
From northern sea to southern coasts, 
In each endeavor did appear; 



FoyjjERry&s. 

And ready thought and ready hand 

Devised the instruments of toil. 
Though roughly made and ruiely planned, 

They helped the farmer till the soil. 

And now began the hsart of man 

To rise in vanity supreme; 
And, as the heavens he would scan, 

To reach them was his coa-taut dream. 
At Babel God their zeal suppressed, 

And there confusion was set rife; 
And when eachother they addressed 

Their speech did sound like wordless strife. 

Ife was disorder of the mind 

That brought confusion to the tongue, 
And scattered men like creatures blind, 

The varied wild^ of earth among. 
And so they grew to n itions great, 

And seldom met again in peace. 
Their rivalry will ne'er eba'e 

Till wars and jealous strivings cease. 



SONQ OF THE ANCIENT A QES. 81 

Now tune the harp and wake the song, 

And 'sweep the strings with effort strong; 

For I have found again a joy 

Like precious gold without alloy. 

A page of history as bright 

As seas of glass in midday light. 

I start, and struggle to repeat 

An echo of the message sweet 

That falls in cadence on the ear 

That bends, the voice of God to hear. 

That wondrous voice, of old was heard, 
By one who recognized the word 
As coming from its source of Love — 
Descending from the courts above, 
On Abram's listening ear to fall; 
And him from home and kindred call 
To Canaan's splended, promised land, 
In wait to give, with lavish hand 
Of Providence, its bounties free 
To Abram and his sesd to be^. 



Thus righteousness by faith sprang up, 
And fills to-day salration's cup. 

Of Abraham's seed nii^ions since havs been boru^ 

And were prospared for hundreis of yeii'S. 
Thus began the Ion? rei^n in the hi=?toric mora, 

Of the faithful o'er trials and tears. 
And the record of many a deed of love, 

And the blessings of peace an 3 wealth. 
Are all fruits of a trist in the Pi.var I'jjve, 

Who r«gtor«3 to the spirit its health. 



TJte CaDtivtty an(% DsUverancs, and Sjrq of Moses, 

ff ^h© youngest son of Israel, 

Victim for hate, from prison-well 
Was sold to roTing trading men, 
By brethren, who heard not again 
The voice they once had heard to eooro, 
Till, ia their land to faror born. 



iK>A^ OF TUM a NCIE^T A GEH. ^3 

Arose r famine great and sore, 
Whicb on the country heav^' bore. 
Then Joseph's triumph w i.^ ompleto 
In love and hastiness to greet 
His brethren, who had come to buy 
The corn that grew 'neath Egypt's -^ y. 
The love that burned in Joseph's heart, 
Though far from home, did not depart, 
And had, indeed, by absence grown 
lill by his brethren he was known. 

How must th© mem'ry of the past 
Have 'cross their aching brain.^ been cast, 
VVith conscience making each word lame. 
And loading every glance with shame, 
As, when they thought of former years, 
They would relieve themselves in tears! 
Beware, oh selfish heart of flesh, 
That in thy life this scene afresh 
May not in striking lines be shown I 
For time has not such soan^a outgrown. 



B4 POyDERIXGS. 

Great plan of God euacted there 

The seed ol: Abraham to spare. 

And overruling sin to make 

A great love deep expression take I 

And how all things were brought to bear 

In favor of this nation rare! 

So Egypt's king gave his consent 

That Jo33ph's kin should move their tent 

To Goshen's land, and ihere reside 

III peace and wealth on every side. 

To Jacob's side his sons there came; 

And each one answered to his name, 

And heard their father's prophecy 

Of days his strengthened eyes could see. 

'Twas in the line of Judah's seed 

That man from sin was to ba freed. 

But after many years of peace, 
A new king rose, and said, "Increase 
Their task, lest they get strong, 
And mingle with the hostile tarong. 



^ 



SONG OF THE AXCIEXT A GSS. 35 

When such shall 'gainst the nation war 
In some sore moment un-luoked-for." 
The whip and burden never ceased, 
But still the Israelites increased, 
And, under the Egyptian sky, 
Were worshipers of the Most High 
Until a Hebrew child had grown 
To manhood, near the very throne, 
Who rose, when God the time bad told, 
To lead them forth, with effort bold, 
Wliere Pharaoh no more could curse 
With bondage growing \\ort-e and woree. 
Into the land their fathers kLew — 
According to the promise true. 

The Lord with sign> and wonders proved, 

His power, and the Red sea moved 

To let His children journey through; 

But ere the heathen warriors knew, 

It covered them in hopeless deep, 

And closed their eyes in death's long sleep-. 



56 POyDERTXGS. 

Then through the open temple rang 
The song of joy which Moses sang. 
The song that sounded on the breeze 
Was one with words somewhat like these:— 

"Unto the Lord my God I'll sing. 

He forth in triumph u? did bring, 

And threw the rider in the sea. 

The Lord my strength and song shall be, 

For He the tide of woe has stayed. 

His habitation shall be made — 

My father's God, of matchless worth, 

Shall be exalted in the earth! 

The Lord doth into battle go; 

His name shall coaquer every foe; 

For Pharaoh's chariots and host 

Vrith corpses strewed the Red Sea coast. 

His chosen captains, too, were dro^Tned, 

And on the Red Sea's shore were found. 

The waters over them have flown. 

And they have sunken like a stone. 



m)NQ OF THE ANCIENT A GES, 37 

**0h Lord, thy power is gloriousl 
Thou hasi through danger carried us! 
Thy wrath to rebels thou hast shown; 
Thy terror is to sinners known. 
For thou the wicked hast consumed 
Like stubble, when their hearts presumed 
To rise against thy righteous power, 
And claim the victory of the hour. 
Thy nostrils gave the gath'nng blast 
When into heaps the floods were cast. 
And stood upright, and were congealed, 
While to us was a way revealed. 

•' *I will pursuel' the foe declared; 
*To take the spoil lam prepared. 
I'll overtake! I'll draw the sword! 
It satisfaction shall afford.* 
With mighty wind thou then didst blow, 
And horse and rider didst overthrow. 
The multitude was doomed to drown. 
They like a weight of lead w«ftt down. 



^ POXDERIXGS. 

'*Who is like unto thee, oh Lord, 

Among the great, or rebel horde? 

Who is like thee so glorious 

In wonders, praise, and holiness? 

Thou stretchest out ihy strong ri^ht hand , 

The wicked perish from the land. 

Thou in thy mercy forth ha=;t brou^rht 

The people whom thy love hast bought — 

Hast guided them by strength and i?race> 

Unto thy holy dwelling-place. 

The people shall with trem')MQg fear. 

And Palestina sad news hear. 

The dakes of E Jom then shall be 

Amazed in all their dignity; 

Th« mighty Moabites snail fear, 

And as an aspen leaf appear; 

And all the people meJt away 

^Yho live in Canaan today. 

A fear and dread shall on them fall; 

Thy strength and greatness shall apalU 



SOyO OF THE A NCIENT A GE&. ^9 

Until the people thou hast bought 

Are safe from the pursuer brought. 

Aud { hiuted ID thy dwelling-place. 

Which thou hast founded in thy gra? i'. 

The Lord A\\\\\ reign forevermore, 

His kiogdoQi reach to every shore; 

For, wlien between the Red Sea coasts 

Were Pharaoh's chariots and hosts, 

A band of cruel, heathen men, 

The Lord 'ha waters turned again. 

But Israel passed over free, 

Upon the road within the sea." 

y 

1 hen went forth Miriam to bring 

The daughters nil to dance and sing 

1 o Him v\liO triumphed gloriously, 

And threw the rider in the sea. 



Entrance into Canaan, Babylonian Captivitty, 
ana Beginning of the C?iristian Era, 



40 PO^'DSRT.yGS. 



^o Moses forward led the thronj? 

^-^ Wheu he had sung to God that song^ 
And through the wilderness they went, 
To reach the promised land intent. 
'Twas first at Marah they complained; 
And on the head of Moses rained 
The grievances the people thought 
Were by his faulty leading brought. 
Then in the wilderness of Sin 
Their want and hunger entered in. 
They murmured out a vain regret 
That they were not in Egypt yet. 
Then God the bread from heaven sent, 
Yet they were not for long content; 
And still they murmured — even scoffed, — 
For which the Lord besoujht them oft, 
As wars and wants their hearts distres>?ed 
While t hrough the wi] derne?s they pressed. 
And oft their hearts by God were tried> 
But still He lingered by their sid^. 



SONQ OF THE A XCIEXT A GE^, 41 

Upon the moTint of Sinai 
The Lord disclosed to Moses's eye 
The ten commandments and the laws 
To stand against our moral flaws; 
But even fhey were out of place 
Without the Lord's redeeminer grace, 
For such the heart of sin became 
That only in a Saviour's name 
Could it the throne of God come nigh, 
For darkness did the thought defy. 
Burnt offerings and sacrifice, 
The sins of mortals to dismiss, 
Were but the substitutes, indeed, 
That signiiied the vital need 
For sacriiice man could not give 
To God and by that service live. 

'Tis scarcely worth the time 'twould take 
To read the comments I might make 
In telling you each small detail 
A full description would entail, 



4^ FONDERINGS. 

For in the Holy Word you'll find 

Them given from a faultless mind. 

These words of mine are bub outlines 

To which my parsing thought inclines. 

The wand'ring in Vie wilderness, 

The oft recurrence of distress, 

And, after forty years had pas=;ed, 

The reraaantbroughitiriu^h safe at List, 

Are facts familiar to u- all — 

At least, them I may hjre recall 

In naught but passing reference, 

And more than that make no praLence. 

But I will mention Moses's death, 
When weakly came his ling'riug breathy 
And mingled with moanc Nebo's air 
While God revealed the country fair 
To which He had His people led, 
Giving them it, as He had said. 
So sad it was that leader grand 
Could but behold the promised land! 



SONG OF THE ANCIEXT A GES. *8 

But he had done his great life's task — 
What more of life can mortal ask? 
The part ot Moses was to lead, 
And suffer with the people's need; 
To write the oracles divine, 
To pray when others would repine; 
To fall afe last beneath deatk's hand, 
And reach a better promised land. 

The kings and prophets grand of old 
Who labored constant to unfold 
The truth to minds in sin's confines, 
Are worthy of a thousand lines, 
If such could be to them of worth; 
Bui their reward is not of earth. 

Idolatry became so great 

In favored Israel's estate 

That God permitted them to bo 

Again brought to captivity. 

Oh, Babylon I oh, Babylon 1 

Where ends the work that thoa haet do&4«? 



44 



fONDERINGS. 



For far this sinful world around 
Thy works of darkness may be found. 
But not too bad for God to take 
Thy deeds to make His people wake 
From heathen sleep devoid of rest, 
By idol-worship dreams distressed; 
For they, when to their land returned, 
Xo more the idols' incense burned. 

Let now the heart burn with desire 

For greater wonders to inquire, 

Ea.ioy the truth more blest to see 

Than all earth's pleasant scenes could be; 

And list to voices that would tell 

Of Him who in His youth did dwell 

At Nazareth of humble name, 

And died for all a death of shame. 

With love so deep, so free, so true, 

That willingly to death he drew. 

That we no more sin's power may feel, 

^,7hen through the dark temptatsons steal . 



SOXG OF THE A ICIEST A GES. 45 

Ah, no! for He the price has paid, 

Himaelf upon the altar laid. 

Dark Calvary I — yet still, so dear 

The scene that brings the erlad heart nearl 

Biest sacriiice, so full and free, 

By Love naade there for you and me! 

2So skill whate'er, ot art can show 

The holy, loving, lovely glow 

That shone forth in that countenance, 

And, e'en in death, was in His glance. 

And so He died and rose, and lives 

T'o-day, and to believers gives 

The crown of everlasting life, 

And stills the throbbing heart's sore strife : 

Nor is He absent from the side 

Of them who in His love abide. 

Oh reader, is he in thy heart? 

If not, He's waiting to impart 

To thee the truest, sweetest joy 

Tkat ©v«r could thy heart employ. 



4S POyDERTimS, 

»jwas the dang'rous sea 

Of Galilee, 
And upon it there, afloat, 

A company— 

When suddenly 
The seas broke o'er their boat. 

The storm was dark 

As it tossed the bark, 
And the men were filled with fear; 

Bat there, composed, 

With eyelids closed, 
Lay the great Lord Jesus near. 

Oh why, oh why, 

While the waves ran hic?h, 

Did the Saviour calmly sleep? 
Why should he cease 
For the sake of ease 

His watch of lova to keep? 



EVEXISG. 47 

In the light so dim 

They looked at Him — 
Had He the power to save? 

It seemed He cared 

Not how thej' fared 
Or struggled 'gainst the wave. 

Him then they woke — 

That strange rest broke — 
And His voice the waves made still. 

Those faith-tried men 

Well marveled then 
That the seas obeyed His will! 

EYEjMIjYG. 

fl^Khe dismal, dark, and fretful day is past, 

Another night-shroud settles o'er the woo-iy 
land: 
One last, departing gleam of light is cast 
From the torch of day in a tired, listless hand. 



48 FOm)ERTyGS. 

Then be at peace, ray troubled heart — be still! 

(Why should I yearn for that which cannot be?) 
Be still, my hearti Be passive to the Will 

That guides the ships upon the stormy sea! 

One look toward the glory-bJazinc: sky, 
One gaze upon the silent sun's farewell, 

And care and vain contentions in me die: 
And ecstasies and peace the bosom swell. 



¥JIK ]5EW YE^l^ BEl£l£. 

^^an^ out the bell, 
^^-^ "Old year, farewell! 

Thy end is nigh. 

Good-by! good-by!" 
*'But leave, old year," cried I, "the joys 
That thy first coming brought to me. 
Alas for those long cherished toys, 
That thou, old year, must take with thee!" 

Then strove the bell 
Glad news to tell: 



nidfei 



FALSE JO vs. 49 

*'Die, sin and painl 

Hope, live again!" 
Then, 'round its cradle I would sing 
The New Year's innocence and mirth, 
Forgetting disappointment's sting: 
iS'ew joys are in the New Year's birth. 



F^IigE J6Yg. 

jjLike a sad note of distress 
^-^ Through a lonely wilderness, 

Sounds the voice of sinful mirth. 
But ah! its hollow tones confess 

That it has no lasting worth. 

'Tis a bitterness of soul 

From the sin-tide's ceaseless roll, 

And the fountain of all woe, 
Carrying to destruction's goal, 

Like th3 waves waen tempests blow. 



60 



I 



POyDERTyQS. 



F^l^EWEl£l£. 



are well! farewell!— but is it well 
That friends of years should part? 
Is there a voice that can foreteli 
A constancy of heart? 

Oh! is it right to say good-by, 

And not yet still remain, 
When parting words end with a sigh, 

And parting thought is pain? 

The green of distant tielJs grows dim, 
The heart's fresh zeal grows faint: 

Thetemplingscenesin tear-drops swim, 
For love has strong restrainti 





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